Letter 12025: It is well known to your Experience that Peter, whom we have made a guardian (defensorem), is sprung from the estate belonging to our Church which is called Vitelas. And so, since we ought to show kindness towards him in such a way that nevertheless the Church may suffer no disadvantage, we command you by this order to charge him strictly not to...
Pope Gregory the Great→Romanus, Patrician, and Exarch of Italy|c. 602 AD|Pope Gregory the Great|Human translated
imperial politicsproperty economics
Military conflict; Personal friendship; Economic matters
Gregory to Romanus, Defensor [church legal officer].
You are aware that Peter, whom I appointed as a defensor, comes from the church estate called Vitelas. I want to show him kindness -- but not at the Church's expense.
Here is my order: charge him strictly that he must not presume, under any pretext or excuse, to marry his children outside the estate to which they are legally bound by their status [as coloni -- tenant farmers tied to the land]. You must be very careful about this and warn them firmly. Under no circumstances are any of them to leave the property to which they were born.
If any of them -- which I do not expect -- should presume to depart, they can be assured that I will never consent to any of them living or marrying outside the estate where they were born. Their land will also be reassigned. And know that you will face serious consequences if your negligence allows any of them to attempt what I have forbidden.
Book XII, Letter 25
To Romanus, Guardian (Defensorem) .
Gregory to Romanus, etc.
It is well known to your Experience that Peter, whom we have made a guardian (defensorem), is sprung from the estate belonging to our Church which is called Vitelas. And so, since we ought to show kindness towards him in such a way that nevertheless the Church may suffer no disadvantage, we command you by this order to charge him strictly not to presume, under any pretext or excuse, to marry his children anywhere but in that estate to which they are bound by law and their condition . In this matter, too, it is necessary for your Experience to be very careful, and to threaten them, so that on no occasion whatever they may go out of the property to which by their birth they are subjected. For, if any one of them (as we do not believe will be the case) should presume to depart from it, he may be assured that our assent will never be given to any of them dwelling or being married outside the estate on which they were born, but that also their land should be superscribed . And then know that you will run no slight risk, if through your negligence any of them should attempt to do any of the things which we forbid.
◆
Gregory to Romanus, Defensor [church legal officer].
You are aware that Peter, whom I appointed as a defensor, comes from the church estate called Vitelas. I want to show him kindness -- but not at the Church's expense.
Here is my order: charge him strictly that he must not presume, under any pretext or excuse, to marry his children outside the estate to which they are legally bound by their status [as coloni -- tenant farmers tied to the land]. You must be very careful about this and warn them firmly. Under no circumstances are any of them to leave the property to which they were born.
If any of them -- which I do not expect -- should presume to depart, they can be assured that I will never consent to any of them living or marrying outside the estate where they were born. Their land will also be reassigned. And know that you will face serious consequences if your negligence allows any of them to attempt what I have forbidden.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)